Water jet mechanism for whirlpool effect in pedicures or other applications

ABSTRACT

A whirlpool foot bath for a pedicure chair having a housing with a removable cap and a rotor and stator magnetic motor within the housing. Water in the bath is circulated through an inlet in the cap and out through at least one outlet in the cap. A method of use is described.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue of U.S.Pat. No. 8,272,079. The reissue applications are the presentapplication, application Ser. No. 13/946,899, filed Jul. 19, 2013, andapplication Ser. No. 13/910,977, now abandoned.

This application is a continuation reissue of application Ser. No.13/946,899, filed Jul. 19, 2013, which is a continuation reissue ofapplication Ser. No. 13/910,977, filed Jun. 5, 2013, which is anapplication for reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 8,272,079, which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/312,907 filed Dec. 20,2005 now abandoned. The contents and disclosure of which are herebyincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a water jet mechanism and method of usein a pedicure and more particularly, to a motor in a housing having acap.

2. Description of Related Art

It is known to have a pedicure chair with a basin for bathing the feetof a person (U.S. Patent D454,705 to Long). These types of pedicurechairs have a pipe system to introduce water into, and remove waterfrom, the basin. The water is circulated by a conventional motor-driven,shaft mounted, fan. There is frequently water leakage around the shaftrequiring maintenance. Also, the pipe system is subject to accumulationof dirt, mold and bacteria and is very difficult to clean and sterilizeafter use by each customer. There is the possibility of health concerns,safety and anxiety of customers.

A water circulation unit having a stator which creates a rotatingmagnetic field and is separated from the water by a magneticallypermeable wall and a rotor on the opposite side of the wall is disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,225 to Laing. This unit is part of a hot waterdistribution system which circulates cooled down hot water away from aspigot and brings in hot water such that hot water is always immediatelyavailable at the spigot.

Other water circulation means known to persons skilled in the art mayalso be used. A single phase synchronous motor made by HanningElektro-werks (Model DPO 40-020) has been used for several years inwashing machines and has proven to be reliable and efficient.

There is a need for a circulating system for water in a pedicure bathwhich provides adequate movement of the water and which can be cleanedand sterilized rapidly and effectively to provide for the health andanxiety of persons using the pedicure bath.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a system for circulatingwater in a bath used in a pedicure, a Jacuzzi and a whirlpool bath, thesystem being rapidly and easily cleaned and sanitized.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of preparingfor use a bath used in a pedicure, a jacuzzi and a whirlpool bath.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there isdisclosed an improvement to a pedicure chair having a whirlpool footbath provided with a basin, wherein water is continually ejected throughrespective first pipes into the basin and is thereafter withdrawntherefrom through respective second pipes and wherein mold or bacteriamay tend to accumulate in the pipes, such that cleaning or sterilizingthe pipes after each customer becomes difficult and time consuming, andsuch that customer health problems or anxieties occur. The improvementhas a means for filling the basin with fresh water initially, at leastone induction motor and combination pump mounted in a housing on thebasin and having a removable cap provided with at least one inletopening and at least one outlet opening for communication with thebasin. In this manner, the fresh water is sucked out of the basinthrough the inlet opening and thereafter is discharged out of the atleast one outlet opening for continually recirculating the water in thebasin and thereby creating a whirlpool action therein. The inductionmotor and combination pump has a stator and further has amagnetically-retained rotor. After each customer, the cap may beremoved, the rotor manually pulled away from the stator, and the pumpquickly and conveniently cleaned or sterilized. Thereafter, themagnetically-retained motor and the cap may be easily replaced, therebysaving considerable time between customers, substantially improvingcustomer safety, and removing customer anxieties and health concerns.The removable cap has an inner surface and an outer surface. A rim isformed circumferentially about the inner surface. The at least one inletopening is formed centrally within the cap. A circular wall is formed onthe inner surface surrounding the inlet opening. The at least one outletopening is formed through the cap between the inlet opening and the rim.The outer surface of the cap has a circumferential wall formed about theat least one outlet opening. The wall extends outwardly from the topsurface of the cap forming a nozzle thereon, such that water expelledradially from the rotor is directed axially through the at least oneoutlet and projected from the nozzle into the basin.

In further accordance with the teachings of the present invention, thereis disclosed a jet pump mounted in a basin of a pedicure chair, jacuzzior whirlpool bath wherein water is circulated. The jet pump has ahousing having an externally accessible removable cap. The cap has anouter surface and an inner surface. A rim is formed circumferentiallyabout the inner surface. An inlet opening for water is formed centrallywithin the cap, a circular wall being formed on the inner surfacesurrounding the inlet opening. At least one outlet for water is formedthrough the cap between the wall around the inlet opening and the rim.The inlet opening has a plurality of spaced-apart holes arranged in aseries of concentric circles. A motor having a stator and a magneticallycoupled rotor is disposed within the housing, the rotor being receivedwithin the central portion of the cap. When the motor is activated, therotor rotates drawing water through the water inlet and expelling thewater radially against the wall around the inlet opening, the watercirculating within the cap and being directed axially outwardly throughat least one outlet.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction withthe enclosed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person seated in a pedicure chair withtheir feet in the basin.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the basin showing the person's feet in the bathopposite from a water pump.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the threaded housing on which are mounted ascrew ring and ring seals.

FIG. 5 is a cross section view showing the mounting of the housing inthe basin.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rotor separated from the stator.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the outer surface of the cap to thehousing.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the inner surface of the cap of thehousing.

FIG. 9 is a cross-section view taken across the lines 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the inner surface of the cap of the housing.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view showing the rotor in rotation and themovement of water radially from the rotor.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the movement of water within the cap.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing removal of the back ring to accessthe motor for replacement.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the method of preparing, cleaning andusing the pedicure bath.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a plurality of extra rotors andcaps in a sterilizing solution to be used to rapidly prepare the basinfor the next customer.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the preparation and use of the pedicurechair incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the top of the alternative cap to thehousing.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the bottom of the alternative cap tothe housing.

FIG. 19 is a bottom plan view of the alternative cap to the housing.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken across the lines 20-20 of FIG.19.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the motor having an impeller used withthe alternative cap to the housing.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the top of the impeller.

FIG. 23 is a bottom plan view of the impeller.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken across the lines 24-24 of FIG.23.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the bottom of the impeller.

FIG. 26 is a side elevation view of the motor in the housing with thealternative cap mounted in the basin.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken across the lines 27-27 of FIG.26.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, persons receiving a pedicure are usuallyseated in a pedicure chair 10 which has a basin 12 in which the person'sfeet are placed. Water is circulated in the basin 12 and is directed atthe person's feet.

The jet pump of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. As shown inFIGS. 4-5, a housing 14 has external threads 16 formed thereon. Thefirst end of the housing has an enlarged shoulder 18 formed thereon. Acooperating threaded screw ring 20 is mounted on the threaded housing14. A first seal ring 22 is disposed adjacent to the enlarged shoulder18 on the housing and a second seal ring 24 is disposed adjacent to thescrew ring 20. The basin 12 has an opening formed in the sidewall orbottom of the basin and the housing 14 is received in the opening withthe seal rings 22, 24 on either side of the opening in the sidewall ofthe basin. Tightening of the screw ring 20 against the basin forms awatertight seal with the respective first seal ring 22 and second sealring 24 between the basin and the housing. More than one jet pump may bemounted in the basin to provide more efficient circulation of water.

An induction motor is mounted in the housing 14. The induction motor hasan electrically activated stator 26 and a permanent magnet rotor (FIG.6). A motor which has been used satisfactorily is Model D4K-67 suppliedby Laing Thermotech, Inc., San Diego, Calif. In a preferred embodiment,the stator has a well formed therein, the opening of the well beingoriented toward the basin 12. The rotor has a semispherical shape whichis received in the well in the stator 26. The rotor 28 may have acentral bore 44 thereon and the well may have a post 46 formed centrallytherein such that the rotor is always properly seated in the well. Themotor has no propeller shaft. The motor has a lifetime in excess of10,000 hours and is powered by direct current using up to 24V. The rotor28 preferably has a plurality of vanes 30 formed circumferentiallytherein. When the motor is energized, water in the housing 14 isdirected radially from the rotor 28 due to the rotation of the rotor andthe vanes in the rotor.

The present invention is not limited to use with an induction motor. Asingle plane synchronous motor 59 such as Model DPO 40-020 availablefrom Hanning Elektro-werks GmbH & Co. has been used successfully (FIGS.21-27). This motor has an impeller 58 mounted on the end of a driveshaft. The impeller 58 is manually removable from the motor for cleaningbetween use by each person using the pedicure chair. Preferably, theimpeller 58 has a surface 60 with a plurality of vanes 62 formed on afirst side. A pocket 64 is formed on a second side of the surface 60forming a watertight seal around a bore 66 which is formed in the motor.A drive shaft 68 is connected to the second side of the surface 60 ofthe impeller 58. The drive shaft 68 passes through the gasket 64 and isreceived in the bore 66 in the motor.

As shown in FIGS. 7-10, the cap 32 to the housing 14 is retained on thehousing with a twist lock fitting for ease of manual attachment andremoval. In the central portion of the cap 32, there is an opening 34which serves as a water inlet. Also, there is at least one andpreferably three equidistance spaced-apart, outlets 36 formed in the cap32 outwardly of the inlet 34. An annular rim 37 is formed about theouter surface of the cap 32. The inner surface of the annular rim 37defines the circumference of the inner surface of the cap 32. The innersurface of the cap 32 has a raised ring 38 formed thereon. The ring 38is oriented toward the rotor 28 and surrounds the central portion andthe water inlet opening 34. Between the raised ring 38 and the outeredge of the cap 32, there is formed a trepan 40. Further formed in theraised ring 38 there is at least one, and preferably three, openingswhich are the outlet ports 36 or discharge ports. In the embodiment withthree outlets, it is preferred that the outlets are spaced apart 120°from one another. The outlet ports 26 pass through the cap 32 and, onthe outer surface of the cap 32, there is a circumferential wall 42around each outlet port 36 forming a respective nozzle.

As shown in FIGS. 11-12, water within the basin 12 is drawn into theintake opening 34 in the center of the cap 32 by rotation of the rotor28. The vanes in the rotor 28 expel the water radially across the trepan40. The water is contained by the annular rim 37 and circulates withinthe cap 32 and is directed axially through the plurality of dischargeport outlets 36. When leaving the outlets 36, the circumferential wall42 on the outlet acts as a nozzle to forcefully direct the water intothe basin 12 producing agitation, circulation and a whirlpool effect onthe water within the basin.

The stator 26 is electrically connected to a low DC voltage power sourceusing a quick-disconnect fitting 48. The stator 26 is in the housing 14with the wiring on the opposite side from the rotor 28 and distal fromthe basin 12, Access to the wiring is through the back or side of thepedicure chair 10 permitting servicing of the motor (FIG. 12).

In a typical use (FIG. 14), the pedicure chair is prepared for acustomer by manually twisting and removing the cap 32. The inner surfaceand outer surface of the cap 32 are wiped with a cloth/tissue having asterilizing/cleaning material, such as alcohol, thereon. Alternately,the cap 32 may be immersed in a sterilizing/cleaning solution. The rotor28 is manually removed from the stator 26 and cleaned/sterilized in amanner as performed with the cap 32. The stator 26 and the entire innersurface of the housing 14 are wiped with a cloth/tissue having asterilizing/cleaning material thereon. The cleaned rotor 28 is replacedon the stator 26. Note that due to the magnetic nature of the rotor, itis strongly attracted to the stator. Simply disposing the rotor near thewell in the stator is sufficient to have the rotor seat itself in thewell with the post 46 in the well received in the bore 44 in the rotor.No tools or special handling are required. The cleaned cap is manuallyattached to the housing without the need for any tools. The interior ofthe basin is cleaned/sterilized by wiping with a cloth/tissue having acleaning/sterilizing material thereon. A predetermined amount of wateris placed in the basin. If desired, additional substances such asconditioners, medicaments, fragrances, etc. may be placed in the basinwith the water. A customer is seated in the pedicure chair 10 with theirfeet oriented toward the at least one housing. The motor is activated tocirculate the water in the basin and the water is circulated as requiredfor the pedicure. After the pedicure procedure is completed and thecustomer leaves, the basin is emptied of water and the basin, cap, rotorand interior of the housing and stator are sterilized/cleaned using theabove described procedure. The cleaning/sterilizing procedure iscompleted in approximately one minute or less.

In an alternate embodiment (FIGS. 17-20) the removable cap 32′ has aninner surface and an outer surface. A rim 50 is formed circumferentiallyabout the inner surface. At least one inlet opening 34′ is formedcentrally with the cap 32′. A circular wall 52 is formed on the innersurface surrounding the inlet opening 34′. At least one outlet opening36′ is formed through the cap 32′ between the inlet opening 34′ and therim 50. In an embodiment having three (3) outlet openings 36′, they arepreferably spaced apart 120° from each other. On the outer surface ofthe cap, each outlet opening has a circumferential wall 42′ formedthereabout. The wall 42′ extends outwardly from the top surface of thecap forming a nozzle about the respective outlets 36′. Water expelledradially from the cap is directly axially and is projected from thenozzle into the basin. Preferably, the inlet opening 34′ has a pluralityof spaced-apart holes 54 arranged in a series of concentric circles. Theseries of spaced-apart holes are formed on a convex dome 56 extendingabove the outer surface of the cap 32′.

Irrespective of the type of motor used in the housing, the inlet opening34 in the cap 32 is centrally disposed so that the inlet opening isopposite the motor or the impeller and water is drawn from the basin 12through the inlet opening 34.

Alternately, there could be provided additional caps and rotors whichare maintained in a cleaning/sterilizing bath or are kept in acleaned/sterilized condition (FIG. 15). These clean components cold beused to replace the caps and/or rotors which are to be cleaned. Thiswould further shorten the time to clean the pedicure chair for the nextcustomer. A diagrammatic flowchart of use is presented in FIG. 16.

In the current state-of-the-art, the basin may be wiped with acloth/tissue having a sterilizing/cleaning material, but is not possibleto adequately clean the motor/fan used to circulate the water. Further,in the present chairs, there are pipes through which the watercirculates and it is not possible to adequately clean these thoroughly.The absence of dirt, mold or bacteria in these pipes and/or on themotor/fan cannot be assured. Thus, in the present chairs, thealternatives are 1) do not sterilize/clean which can produce unsanitary,dermatological problems for customers, 2) conduct a partial cleaningwhich is inadequate, or 3) conduct a thorough cleaning which may requireapproximately 20 minutes and cannot assure the cleanliness of the pipes.

The present invention provides a method of using a pedicure chair whichassures that the bath for the customer is safe and sanitary and whichcan be prepared in a relatively short time.

Although the above description is directed to a pedicure chair, thedevice may be used in a jacuzzi, whirlpool bath or similar item.

Obviously, many modifications may be made without departing from thebasic spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that within the scope of theappended claims, the invention may be practiced other than has beenspecifically described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A jet pump mounted in a basin of a pedicurechair, or whirlpool bath wherein water is circulated, the jet pumpcomprising: a housing having an externally accessible removable cap, thecap having an outer surface and an inner surface, a rim formedcircumferentially about the inner surface, an inlet opening for waterformed centrally within the cap, a wall being formed circumferentiallyon the inner surface of the cap surrounding the inlet opening betweenthe inlet opening and the rim, the wall extending from the inner surfaceof the cap and directed toward the motor, at least one outlet for waterformed through the cap radially between the wall around the inletopening and the rim, the at least one outlet having a nozzle thereaboutformed on the outer surface of the cap whereby water is projected fromthe nozzle into the basin, the inlet opening having a plurality ofspaced-apart holes, a motor having an impeller to draw water toward themotor, the motor being disposed within the housing, and the impellerbeing oriented opposite the inlet opening of the cap, wherein when themotor is activated, the impeller is rotated, the water is drawn throughthe water inlet and the water is expelled radially against the wallaround the inlet opening, the water circulating within the cap and beingdirected axially outwardly through the at least one outlet.
 2. The jetpump of claim 1, wherein the series of spaced-apart inlet holes areformed on a convex dome extending above the outer surface of the cap. 3.The jet pump of claim 1, wherein the impeller is manually removable forcleaning.
 4. A jet pump configured to be mounted in a basin of apedicure chair or in a whirlpool bath wherein water is circulated, thejet pump comprising: a housing supporting a motor having a stator and arotor and configured to rotatingly drive a plurality of vanes about anaxis, the housing comprising a shoulder configured to mount the housingto a wall of the pedicure chair or whirlpool bath so that a housingfront part extends into the basin; a cap having an outer surface and aninner surface, the cap releasably engaged with the housing front part soas to define a pump chamber between the cap inner surface and a surfaceof the housing front part, the cap comprising a plurality ofspaced-apart holes formed through the cap and defining an inlet alignedwith the axis, and an outlet opening through the cap inner surface, theoutlet opening being radially spaced from the inlet; the plurality ofvanes disposed within the pump chamber and rotatable by the rotor todraw water axially through the inlet and direct the water radially andout the outlet opening; the surface of the housing front part within thepump chamber comprising a flat portion and an outer portion, the outerportion extending in a direction transverse to the flat portion andterminating at an outer edge, the outer edge forming an unbroken circle,and when the cap is engaged with the housing front part the outer edgeengages the cap inner surface and the outlet opening of the cap isadjacent the outer edge; and a first point along the cap inner surfacebeing defined at the inlet, a second point along the cap inner surfacebeing defined adjacent the outlet opening, the first point and secondpoint being spaced radially and axially relative to one another.
 5. Ajet pump as in claim 4, wherein a reference plane is defined by the flatportion of the surface of the housing front part in the pump chamber andis normal to the axis, and wherein moving radially from the first pointto the second point a distance between the cap inner surface and thereference plane progressively decreases without increasing.
 6. A jetpump as in claim 5, wherein a radially flat portion of the cap innersurface is defined between the first point and the second point, andwherein the distance between the cap inner surface and the referenceplane does not decrease moving radially across the radially flatportion.
 7. A jet pump as in claim 5, wherein a distance between thesecond point and the reference plane is less than a distance between thefirst point and the reference plane.
 8. A jet pump as in claim 4,wherein a reference plane is defined by the flat portion of the housingfront part surface within the pump chamber and is normal to the axis,and wherein a distance between the second point and the reference planeis less than a distance between the first point and the reference plane.9. A jet pump as in claim 4, wherein the outlet opening opens into anelongate nozzle having a downstream nozzle opening that is spaced fromthe cap outer surface.
 10. A jet pump as in claim 9, wherein the cap isunitary.
 11. A jet pump as in claim 4, further comprising a secondoutlet opening spaced radially from the inlet and from the outletopening.
 12. A jet pump as in claim 4, wherein a first elongate radiallyextending portion of the cap inner surface in the inlet is inclinedrelative to the axis, a second elongate radially extending portion ofthe cap inner surface is normal to the axis, and a third elongateradially extending portion of the cap inner surface is inclined relativeto the axis, the second portion being between the first and thirdportions.
 13. A jet pump as in claim 4 further comprising an inletpassage that rotates with the vanes, the inlet passage interposedbetween the vanes and the cap inner surface and aligned with the inlet.14. A jet pump as in claim 4, wherein the vanes are mounted on therotor.
 15. A jet pump configured to be mounted in a basin of a pedicurechair or in a whirlpool bath wherein water is circulated, the jet pumpcomprising: a housing supporting a motor having a stator, the housingcomprising a shoulder configured to mount the housing to a wall of thepedicure chair or whirlpool bath so that a housing front part extendsinto the basin, the motor configured so that no propeller shaft of themotor extends through the housing front part; a rotor that ismagnetically drawn toward the stator and which comprises a plurality ofvanes, the stator and rotor configured so that the motor, when actuated,rotates the rotor about an axis; a cap having an outer surface and aninner surface, the cap releasably engaged with the housing front part soas to define a pump chamber between the cap inner surface and a surfaceof the housing front part, the cap comprising a plurality ofspaced-apart holes formed through the cap and defining an inlet alignedwith the axis, and an outlet opening through the cap inner surface, theoutlet opening being radially spaced from the inlet; the rotor and theplurality of vanes disposed within the pump chamber, the plurality ofvanes configured to rotate with the rotor to draw water axially throughthe inlet and direct the water radially and out the outlet opening; thesurface of the housing front part within the pump chamber comprising aflat portion and an outer edge portion, the outer edge portion extendingin a direction transverse to the flat portion; and a first point alongthe cap inner surface being defined at the inlet, a second point alongthe cap inner surface being defined adjacent the outlet opening, thefirst point and second point being spaced radially and axially relativeto one another.
 16. A jet pump as in claim 15, wherein the outer edgeportion of the surface of the housing front part within the pump chamberis circular.
 17. A jet pump as in claim 16, wherein the outlet openingof the cap is adjacent the outer edge portion when the cap is engagedwith the housing front part.
 18. A jet pump as in claim 17, wherein theoutlet opening opens into an elongate nozzle having a downstream nozzleopening that is spaced from the cap outer surface.
 19. A jet pump as inclaim 18, wherein the cap is unitary.
 20. A jet pump as in claim 15,wherein the housing front part additionally comprises a post alignedwith the axis, and wherein the rotor comprises a central bore configuredto accommodate the post.
 21. A jet pump as in claim 15, wherein areference plane is defined by the flat portion of the surface of thehousing front part in the pump chamber and is normal to the axis, andwherein moving radially from the first point to the second point adistance between the cap inner surface and the reference planeprogressively decreases without increasing.
 22. A jet pump as in claim21, wherein a radially flat portion of the cap inner surface is definedbetween the first point and the second point, and wherein the distancebetween the cap inner surface and the reference plane does not decreasemoving radially across the radially flat portion.
 23. A jet pump as inclaim 15, wherein a reference plane is defined by the flat portion ofthe surface of the housing front part in the pump chamber and is normalto the axis, and wherein a radially flat portion of the cap innersurface is defined between the first point and the second point, andwherein the distance between the cap inner surface and the referenceplane does not decrease moving radially across the radially flatportion.
 24. A jet pump as in claim 4, wherein at the inlet the outersurface of the cap extends outwardly relative to a portion of the outersurface of the cap radially adjacent the inlet.
 25. A jet pump as inclaim 24, wherein the inner surface of the cap in at least part of theinlet is inclined relative to a line normal to the axis.
 26. A jet pumpas in claim 25, wherein a plurality of the holes formed through the capin the inlet portion extend through the part of the inlet portionwherein the inner surface of the cap is inclined relative to the linenormal to the axis.
 27. A jet pump as in claim 4, wherein the flatportion of the housing front part is radially spaced from the axis. 28.A jet pump as in claim 27, wherein the outer portion of the housingfront part is parallel to the axis.
 29. A jet pump as in claim 8additionally comprising an inclined portion of the cap inner surfacearranged between the inlet and the second point, the inclined portionbeing inclined relative to the axis, wherein the distance between thecap inner surface and the reference plane decreases moving radiallyacross the inclined portion.
 30. A jet pump as in claim 29, wherein themotor comprises an induction motor.
 31. A jet pump as in claim 30,wherein the stator comprises an electrically activated stator, and therotor comprises a permanent magnet rotor, and wherein the rotor ismagnetically drawn to the stator.
 32. A jet pump as in claim 31, whereinthe motor has no propeller shaft.
 33. A jet pump as in claim 32, whereinthe stator has a well formed therein, the opening of the well beingoriented toward the cap, and the rotor is shaped to fit within the well.34. A jet pump as in claim 32, wherein the stator comprises a post andthe rotor comprises a central bore configured to accept the post thereinso as to maintain proper seating of the rotor.
 35. A jet pump as inclaim 34, wherein the rotor is sufficiently magnetically attracted tothe stator so that the rotor will seat itself on the stator post whenplaced near the stator.
 36. A jet pump as in claim 8, wherein a radiallyflat portion of the cap inner surface is defined between the first pointand the second point.
 37. A jet pump as in claim 36, wherein thedistance between the cap inner surface and the reference plane does notdecrease moving radially across the radially flat portion.
 38. A jetpump as in claim 37, wherein a first elongate radially extending portionof the cap inner surface in the inlet is inclined relative to the axis,a second elongate radially extending portion of the cap inner surfacecomprising the radially flat portion, and a third elongate radiallyextending portion of the cap inner surface is inclined relative to theaxis, the second portion being between the first and third portions. 39.A jet pump as in claim 38, wherein the second portion is contiguous withthe first portion, and the second portion is contiguous with the thirdportion.
 40. A jet pump as in claim 39, wherein the cap is unitary. 41.A jet pump as in claim 40, wherein the outlet is radially spaced fromthe second portion.
 42. A jet pump as in claim 36 additionallycomprising an inclined portion of the cap inner surface arranged betweenthe inlet and the second point, the inclined portion being inclinedrelative to the axis, wherein the distance between the cap inner surfaceand the reference plane decreases moving radially across the inclinedportion.
 43. A jet pump as in claim 36, wherein a first elongateradially extending portion of the cap inner surface in the inlet isinclined relative to the axis, a second elongate radially extendingportion of the cap inner surface comprising the radially flat portion,and a third elongate radially extending portion of the cap inner surfaceis inclined relative to the axis, the second portion being between thefirst and third portions.
 44. A jet pump as in claim 43, wherein theoutlet is radially spaced from the second portion.
 45. A jet pump as inclaim 44, further comprising a second outlet opening spaced radiallyfrom the second portion and from the outlet opening.
 46. A jet pump asin claim 45, wherein at the inlet the outer surface of the cap extendsoutwardly relative to a portion of the outer surface of the cap radiallyadjacent the inlet.
 47. A jet pump as in claim 46, wherein the innersurface of the cap in at least part of the inlet is inclined relative toa line normal to the axis.
 48. A jet pump as in claim 47, wherein aplurality of the holes formed through the cap in the inlet portionextend through the part of the inlet portion wherein the inner surfaceof the cap is inclined relative to the line normal to the axis.
 49. Ajet pump as in claim 48, wherein the rotor is magnetically drawn to thestator, and wherein the stator comprises a post and the rotor comprisesa central bore configured to accept the post therein so as to maintainproper seating of the rotor.
 50. A jet pump as in claim 49, wherein themotor has no propeller shaft.
 51. A jet pump as in claim 50, wherein theflat portion of the housing front part is radially spaced from the axis.52. A jet pump as in claim 51, wherein the outer portion of the housingfront part is parallel to the axis.
 53. A jet pump as in claim 52,wherein the vanes are mounted on the rotor.
 54. A jet pump as in claim11 additionally comprising a third outlet opening spaced radially fromthe inlet, wherein the outlet opening, second outlet opening, and thirdoutlet opening are spaced equidistantly from one another.
 55. A jet pumpas in claim 20, wherein the stator comprises the post, and wherein therotor is sufficiently magnetically attracted to the stator so that whenon the post the rotor will seat itself on the stator.
 56. A jet pump asin claim 55, wherein the motor has no propeller shaft.
 57. A jet pump asin claim 20, wherein the flat portion of the housing front part isradially spaced from the axis.
 58. A jet pump as in claim 57, whereinthe outer edge portion terminates in a front outer edge that forms anunbroken circle.
 59. A jet pump as in claim 58, wherein at the inlet theouter surface of the cap extends outwardly relative to a portion of theouter surface of the cap radially adjacent the inlet.
 60. A jet pump asin claim 59, wherein at least part of the inner surface of the cap inthe inlet is inclined relative to the line normal to the axis.
 61. A jetpump as in claim 60, wherein the outer edge portion of the housing frontpart is parallel to the axis.
 62. A jet pump as in claim 60, wherein theoutlet opening of the cap is adjacent the outer edge portion when thecap is engaged with the housing front part.
 63. A jet pump as in claim62, further comprising a second outlet opening spaced radially from theinlet and from the outlet opening.
 64. A jet pump as in claim 63,wherein the outlet opening and the second outlet opening each open intoa respective elongate nozzle having a downstream nozzle opening that isspaced from the cap outer surface.
 65. A jet pump as in claim 64,wherein the cap is unitary.
 66. A jet pump as in claim 65 additionallycomprising an inclined portion of the cap inner surface arranged betweenthe inlet and the second point, the inclined portion being inclinedrelative to the axis, wherein the distance between the cap inner surfaceand the reference plane decreases moving radially across the inclinedportion.
 67. A jet pump as in claim 66, wherein a reference plane isdefined by the flat portion of the surface of the housing front part inthe pump chamber and is normal to the axis, and wherein a radially flatportion of the cap inner surface is defined between the first point andthe second point, and the radially flat portion is parallel to thereference plane.
 68. A jet pump as in claim 67, wherein moving radiallyfrom the first point to the second point a distance between the capinner surface and the reference plane progressively decreases withoutincreasing.
 69. A jet pump as in claim 65, wherein a reference plane isdefined by the flat portion of the surface of the housing front part inthe pump chamber and is normal to the axis, and wherein a distancebetween the second point and the reference plane is less than a distancebetween the first point and the reference plane.
 70. A jet pump as inclaim 69, wherein a radially flat portion of the cap inner surface isdefined between the first point and the second point.
 71. A jet pump asin claim 70 additionally comprising an inclined portion of the cap innersurface arranged between the inlet and the second point, the inclinedportion being inclined relative to the axis, wherein the distancebetween the cap inner surface and the reference plane decreases movingradially across the inclined portion.
 72. A jet pump as in claim 71,wherein the distance between the cap inner surface and the referenceplane does not decrease moving radially across the radially flatportion.
 73. A jet pump as in claim 70, wherein a first elongateradially extending portion of the cap inner surface in the inlet isinclined relative to the axis, a second elongate radially extendingportion of the cap inner surface comprises the radially flat portion,and a third elongate radially extending portion of the cap inner surfaceis inclined relative to the axis, the second portion being between thefirst and third portions.
 74. A jet pump as in claim 73, wherein theoutlet and the second outlet are each radially spaced from the secondportion.